System and method for determining workers compensation insurance premiums

ABSTRACT

A computer system accesses payroll-related insurance premium data at an individual employee level and provides the data at the individual employee level, including cost of insurance at the individual employee level, on a client device. A computer system compares stored data with payroll data and identifies employees lacking occupation classification information for payroll-based premium determination. The computer system provides a fillable form on a user device for the user to provide occupation classification data, and receives the occupation classification data. The computer system provides fillable forms on a user device for a user to provide payroll data for receipt by the system, runs business rules on the received payroll data, determines premiums for payroll-based insurance coverage.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of copending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/902,153, filed May 24, 2013, entitled System AndMethod For Processing Payroll-Related Insurance Data, which is in turn adivisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/644,718filed Oct. 4, 2012, entitled System And Method For ProcessingPayroll-Related Employee And Insurance Data, now Patent No. 8,452,623,which is in turn a divisional application of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 12/639,196, filed Dec. 16, 2009, entitled System and Method forProcessing and Transmitting Payroll-Related Data for InsuranceTransactions, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,515,787, which is in turn acontinuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/975,224,filed Oct. 17, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,112,333, entitled System andMethod for Processing Payroll Related Insurance Premiums, the entiretyof all of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to computer systems, and particularly tocomputer systems for processing payroll-related insurance transactions.

BACKGROUND

Employers purchase a variety of insurance products from insurancecompanies related to employees. Examples of these insurance productsinclude workers compensation insurance, employer-provided term lifeinsurance, and other insurance products. Premiums are calculated by theinsurance company based on estimated numbers of employees, employeeoccupations, salary ranges of employees, locations of employees, andother factors.

The determination of the total premiums is complicated. Reporting to theemployer/customer by the insurance company is typically accomplished bya physical printed reported mailed to the employer. The printed reportdoes not provide granular reporting, but provides premium calculationsat a higher level for larger employers. For example, premiums for amulti-state employer may be reported by class and state. Additionaldetail is undesirable from the standpoint of excessive paper and postagecost.

When employees are added to a payroll, the employer does not typicallyimmediately notify the insurance company that provides payroll-basedinsurance coverage. The insurance company may receive a report ofpayroll information, including employee data, from a payroll company,and identify employees for who required information for determination ofpremium charges is lacking. For example, location of employment andoccupation classification data may be lacking. Insurance companypersonnel typically telephone the employer to obtain this information.The use of personnel to telephone the employer is labor-intensive.Owners and managers needed to complete the information may not beavailable at the times when insurance company personnel are makingcalls. For example, owners of construction contractors may be on jobsites and not available during normal business hours when insurancecompany personnel are making calls. Similarly, owners of restaurants maybe at the restaurant location primarily in evenings and not availableduring the daytime.

Small businesses often do not use payroll companies to prepare theirpayrolls. Such businesses will often employ a bookkeeper to preparepayrolls on a manual basis. As a result, such businesses do not haveelectronic sources of payroll information that can readily be providedto insurance companies for accurate determination of premiums forpayroll-related insurance. The lack of such information may result ininaccuracies in premiums. If the insurance company performs an audit,significant discrepancies that must be remedied by refunds or additionalpremium payments are often identified.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, a computer system for administration ofpayroll-related insurance transactions has: a system access moduleconfigured to authenticate a user from a client device; a data accessmodule configured to, responsive to a request from the authenticateduser via the client device, accessing from an insurance company databasepayroll-related insurance data of an employer associated with theauthenticated user, said data including cost data at an employee leveland occupation codes associated with employee; a processing moduleconfigured to identify, based on the accessed employee data, employeeslacking an associated occupation classification code; and a presentationmodule configured to furnish, for display on a client device: insurancecost data at an employee level; an occupation code form listing each ofthe employees identified as lacking an associated occupationclassification code and a user prompt for an occupation classificationcode, and for receiving classification codes from the user; and afillable form prompting the user to provide payroll data, the payrolldata including employee geographic data, occupation classification andgross amount paid; to receive classification codes and payroll data fromthe client device, and to furnish received classification codes andpayroll data to the processing module. The processing module is furtherfor furnishing received payroll data and classification codes to theinsurance company database.

In an embodiment, a computer system for furnishing payroll-relatedinsurance data for insurance products supplied to an employer by aninsurance company, to a client device, includes: a system access moduleconfigured to authenticate a user from the client device, the user beingassociated with the employer; a data access module configured to,responsive to a request from the authenticated user via the clientdevice, accessing payroll-based insurance data of the employer from aninsurance company database, including individual employee identifiers,occupation codes associated with each individual employee, wagesassociated with each individual employee, and insurance premiumsassociated with each individual employee; and a presentation moduleconfigured to present the accessed payroll-based insurance data of theemployer, including individual employee identifiers, occupation codesassociated with each individual employee, wages associated with eachindividual employee, and insurance premiums associated with eachindividual employee, on the client device.

In an embodiment, a computer system for classification of employees foruse in payroll-based insurance services, includes: a data access moduleconfigured to access employee data from a payroll data source and froman insurance company database, the employee data including name, state,and wage amounts; a processing module configured to identify, based onthe accessed employee data, employees lacking an associated occupationclassification code; and a presentation module configured to present afillable form on a display on a client device listing each of theidentified employees and a user prompt for an occupation classificationcode, and for receiving classification codes from the user. Theprocessing module is further for furnishing received classificationcodes to the insurance company database. The system further includes apremium determination engine for calculating premiums based on thereceived classification codes.

In an embodiment, a computer system for receiving payroll relatedemployee data and determining payroll related insurance premiums,includes: a presentation module configured to provide a fillable formfor display on a client device, the form prompting the user to providepayroll data, the payroll data including employee geographic data,occupation classification and gross amount paid, and for providingreceived data to a processing module; a processing module configured toreceive the payroll data from the presentation module, for runningbusiness rules on the received payroll data, and for providing thepayroll data to a premium calculation module; and a premium calculationmodule configured to calculate premiums based on the received payrolldata.

In an embodiment, a computer-implemented method for furnishingpayroll-related insurance data to a user associated with an employer viaa client device, includes: authenticating the user by a systemauthentication module; accessing, by a processor of a data access moduleresponsive to a request from the user device, payroll-based insurancedata of the employer from a database, the accessed payroll-basedinsurance data including names of a plurality of employees and employeedata associated with each of the employees, the employee data includingwages paid to the employee, occupation classification code of theemployee, employment location of the employee, and cost of premium forpayroll-based insurance coverage associated with the employee;presenting, by a processor of a presentation module, the accessedpayroll based insurance data of the employer on a display of the clientdevice, the presenting including presenting employee names andassociated with each of the employee names, employee data includingwages paid to the employee, occupation classification code of theemployee, employment location of the employee, and cost of premium forpayroll-based insurance coverage associated with the employee.

In an embodiment, a computer-implemented method for classification ofemployees for use in payroll-based insurance services, includes:accessing by a processor of a data access module employee data, ofemployees associated with an employer, from a payroll data source andfrom an insurance company database; identifying by a processor of aprocessing module, based on the accessed employee data, employeeslacking an associated occupation classification code; presenting, by aprocessor of a presentation module, responsive to a request from a userassociated with the employer, a fillable form on a display on a clientdevice listing each of the identified employees and a user prompt for anoccupation classification code; receiving occupation classificationcodes from the user; and furnishing by a processor of the processingmodule received occupation classification codes to the insurance companydatabase.

In an embodiment, a computer-implemented method for receiving payrollrelated employee data and determining payroll related insurancepremiums, includes: providing by a processor of a presentation module afillable form for display on a client device, the form prompting theuser to provide payroll data, the payroll data including employeegeographic data, occupation classification and gross amount paid;providing by a processor of the presentation module received data to aprocessing module; running by a processor of the processing modulebusiness rules on the received data; furnishing by the processor of theprocessing module the data to a premium calculation module; andcalculating by a processor of the premium calculation module premiumsbased on the received payroll data.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary computer network forimplementation of a method and system of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary computer system for use inthe embodiments of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing modules in an exemplary systemaccording to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary screen display showing payroll-related insurancedata at an employee level.

FIG. 5 is another exemplary screen display showing payroll-relatedinsurance data.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary system for obtainingemployee classification data.

FIG. 7 is an exemplary screen display in an embodiment of the system ofFIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a system for obtaining payrollinformation from an employer.

FIG. 9 is an exemplary form for use in the system of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a high level schematic view of an environment forimplementation of a method and system of the invention.

FIG. 11 is a process flow diagram of steps in a method of an embodimentof the invention.

FIG. 12 is a schematic view of a system according to an embodiment of aninvention.

FIG. 13 is a high level schematic view of an environment forimplementation of a method and system of the invention.

FIG. 14 is a process flow diagram of steps in a method of an embodimentof the invention.

FIG. 15 is a process flow diagram of steps in a method of an embodimentof the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It is to be understood that the figures and descriptions of the presentinvention have been simplified to illustrate elements that are relevantfor a clear understanding of the present invention, while eliminating,for the purpose of clarity, many other elements found in typicalcomputer systems and methods for communicating and processing datarelated to payroll-based insurance products.

Referring now to FIG. 10, a high level view of an environment forimplementation of a method and system that overcomes the problemsencountered in the prior art is illustrated. Businesses of various typesthat have employees are shown. The exemplary businesses include a retailstore 1010 having employees 1011, factory 1020 having employees 1021,office-based business 1030 having employees 1031 and home-based business1035 having employees 1036. The retail store 1010, factory 1020,office-based business 1030 and home-based business 1035 will each havevarying occupation classifications for calculation of workerscompensation premiums, for example. The retail store 1010, factory 1020,office-based business 1030 businesses receive their payrolls 1041, 1042,1433 from a payroll company that has a payroll company sever 1040 forcalculating and communicating payroll data, such as via securecommunications protocols over Internet 1060, to insurance company server1050. Home based business 1035 has a manual payroll system implementedon paper records by a bookkeeper 1037 who may perform and checkcalculations using an electronic calculator.

Insurance company server 1050 permits client devices operated byindividual employers and officers and other representatives of toaccess, via Internet 1060, data on an employee-by-employee levelidentifying the cost of insurance products. Cost data may be presentedfor each pay period for each employee. Additional data may be presentedfor each employee, including location, job classification and pay perpayroll, so that the employer may verify the information employed by theinsurance company to calculate the insurance costs. For example, sinceworkers compensation insurance premiums vary from state to state,correct identification of the location of an employee is important foraccurate calculation of premiums. Since workers compensation insurancepremiums also vary depending on the job classification, e.g., premiumsare higher for jobs on a factory floor than clerical jobs, correct jobclassification is also important for accurate calculation of premiums.

Insurance company server 1050 receives payroll data from payroll companyserver 1040 and compares the received data to payroll data already inthe insurance company's records. If new employees have been added, thoseemployees are typically not in the insurance company's records, and theinsurance company does not have job classification information for thosenew employees. The insurance company server may create a fillable form,accessible by the employer over the Internet at a secure website,listing each of the new employees, with a field to permit the employerto input the job classifications of the new employees. The insurancecompany may then calculate the proper insurance premiums for the newemployees.

For a business, such as home-based business 1035, that does not use apayroll service company or its own software to prepare payrolls, theinsurance company server may provide a fillable form, accessible on asecure website by the home-based business 1035, for the employer toinput information used in calculation of insurance premiums. Theinformation requested by the form may include employee name, pay for thecurrent payroll, job classification, whether any of the pay for thepayroll is in a particular type, such as paid vacation or overtime, andother information. The insurance company server may use this informationfor calculation of premiums for payroll-based insurance. The insurancecompany server stores this information, and may provide a form at thenext payroll to the employer to permit the employer to update theinformation to reflect departed employees, new hires, job classificationchanges, pay changes, and the like.

Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary network configuration is shown.Network 100 connects various computer systems and devices. Network 100may be or include any type of network, including a local area network(LAN), a wide area network (WAN), an intranet, the Internet, a publicswitched telephone network (PSTN) or other network. Network 100 mayemploy any suitable data protocols.

Various devices and networks may be in communication with network 100.In embodiments, client device 170, a desktop computer system, clientdevice 172, a notebook computer system, and client device 174, apersonal digital assistant, and client device 176, a smart phone, are incommunication with network 100. Client devices 170, 172, 174 are merelyexemplary. Local area network (LAN) 160 is an exemplary network of anentity such as a commercial or non-profit entity that has employees andobtains payroll-based insurance products. LAN 160 has in communicationtherewith desktop computer systems 164, 166, and file server 162. Smallbusiness accounting software, such as QuickBooks, may run on file server162 and be accessible by computer systems 164, 166 in a client-serverconfiguration.

LAN 120 may be a network of an insurance company, by way of example.Firewall unit 125 may be configured to provide data security serviceswith respect to systems and networks, LAN 120 and the devices incommunication therewith. Firewall unit 125 may be a stand alone deviceincluding one or more processors, data storage devices, and input andoutput connections. Server 130 may serve as a front-end web server thatformats and serves web pages to client devices running browser software.In an embodiment, a processor of server 130 may execute steps of amethod of processing payroll-related insurance data. In an embodiment,server 130 may function as a web front-end for another device or system,such as server 150, which may execute steps of a method of extractingpayroll-related insurance cost data from a backend database. Server 130may provide the functionality of one or more of the presentation modulesdiscussed in greater detail herein. Server 150 may provide thefunctionality of one or more of the processing modules, data accessmodules and communication modules discussed in greater detail herein.The term “module,” as used herein, includes computer hardware, includingprocessors and memory devices, having loaded program code causing theprocessor and other devices to perform particular functions. Server 140may receive payroll data and perform processing to determine premiumamounts for payroll-based insurance products. Server 140 may access datavia mainframe 145 for use in calculations of premium amounts.

In embodiments, a network or data processing network, such as Internet100, may be employed which may include a plurality of individualnetworks, such as a wireless network and a landline based network, eachof which may include a plurality of servers, individual workstations orpersonal computers. Additionally, as those skilled in the art willappreciate, one or more LANs may be included where a LAN may comprise aplurality of intelligent workstations coupled to a host processor. Thenetworks may also include mainframe computers or servers, such as agateway computer or application server. A gateway computer serves as apoint of entry into each network. The gateway may be preferably coupledto another network by means of one or more communications links. Thegateway may also be directly coupled to one or more workstations using acommunications link. The gateway computer may also be coupled to astorage device for storing information related to translation of data,such as user identifications, user-specific mapping between differentdata formats, requirements for data submission for one or more types ofinsurance transactions, as well as other data. Further, the gateway maybe directly or indirectly coupled to one or more workstations. Thoseskilled in the art will appreciate that the gateway computer may belocated geographically remote from the network, and similarly, theworkstations may be located geographically remote from the networksand/or network servers. The client devices or workstations may connectto the wireless network using a networking protocol such as theTransmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (“TCP/IP”) over a numberof alternative connection media, such as cellular phone, radio frequencynetworks, satellite networks, etc. The wireless network may connect tothe gateway using a network connection a such as TCP (TransmissionControl Protocol) or UDP (User Datagram Protocol) over IP, X.25, FrameRelay, ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network), PSTN (Public SwitchedTelephone Network), etc.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a schematic diagram illustrates an exemplarycomputer system for use in the embodiment of FIG. 1. In computer system200, processor 210 executes instructions contained in programs such aspayroll related insurance processing program 212. Programs may be storedon suitable media, such as optical or magnetic disks, fixed disks withmagnetic storage (hard drives), tapes accessed by tape drives, and otherstorage media. Processor 210 communicates, such as through bus 202and/or other data channels, with communications link 205 and memorydevice 220, receives data from user inputs such as pointing device 215and keyboard 230, and provides data to outputs such as display 225.Memory device 220 is configured to exchange data with processor 210, andmay store programs containing processor-executable instructions, andvalues of variables for use by such programs. User input may be providedat pointing device 215 and keyboard 230, as well as other optionalinputs, such as touch screens. In an embodiment, inputs may be receivedvia other user interfaces and workstations connected via wired orwireless communications and via networked communications, such as viaLAN 240, to processor 210. Other output devices may be in communicationwith processor 210, including local and networked printers and speakers.By way of non-limiting example, one or more programs may includeinstructions causing processor 210 to provide output signals prompting auser to provide payroll data, such as employee names, locations,occupation classifications and compensation. Human operators may provideinputs in response to such prompts, and the inputs may be received byprocessor 210; processor 210 may cause data contained in such responsesto be stored in a suitable format, such as in one or more databaseprograms, in memory device 220, or in networked storage devices, such asdata storage 250. Communications link 205 may communicate with remotesources of information, and with systems for implementing instructionsoutput by processor 210, via LAN 240. LAN 240 is merely exemplary, andcommunication may be by one or more of suitable communication methods,including over wired or wireless local area networks and wide areanetworks, and over communications between networks, including over theInternet. Any suitable data and communication protocols may be employed.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a system 300 for furnishing payroll-relatedinsurance premium data to a client device 360 is shown. System 300 mayoperate to provide data to any suitable client device, including withoutlimitation the exemplary client devices illustrated in FIG. 1. System300 includes a data access module 305. A user employing client device360 may be granted access to system 300 by system connection module 350,which may verify credentials such as user identification and password.Data access module 305 is configured to, responsive to a request from auser device, access payroll-based insurance data of an employer from adatabase, such as databases 320, 322. The user may be associated withone employer; the association may be maintained in the database, or inseparate storage at the server, for example. In an embodiment, a user,such as a broker or other representative, may be associated with morethan one employer. The system may provide the user with a drop down menuor other display options to permit furnishing a selection of oneemployer to the system.

Data access module 305 is configured to access data from insurancecompany databases including names or other identifiers of employeesassociated with the employer, and payroll-related insurance dataassociated with each of the employees. In the embodiment, the insurancecompany databases include separate audit database 320 and billingdatabase 322. In other embodiments, the audit data and billing data maybe in a single database. In other embodiments, the audit data andbilling data may be distributed in two or more databases on bases otherthan a division between audit data and billing data. In an embodiment,the databases may be implemented in any suitable relational databasemanagement system, such as Oracle or Microsoft SQL server. The databasesinclude data for each employer, including employees associated with eachemployer. The data associated with each employee may include theincremental premium cost for that employee. The databases may furtherinclude the incremental premium costs associated with each employee foreach payroll period, for a policy period, for a period of time otherthan a policy period or payroll period, or a particular cycle of payrollperiods. The databases may include further data for each employee,including employee geographic data, such as a state or otherjurisdiction where the employee is employed, an occupationalclassification code associated with the employee, the total wages paidto that employee for one or more payroll periods, status of the employeeas an officer, owner or other proprietor, and types of coverage for eachemployee. In addition to total wages paid to the employee for one ormore payroll periods, the data may include wages paid as tips, wagespaid as paid sick leave, paid vacation, paid short-term disabilityleave, or other paid leave. In an embodiment, suitable SQL queries maybe stored in software code in one or more memory devices by data accessmodule 305 and accessed by data access module 305 in response to a userrequest for data. In another embodiment, queries may be stored indatabases 320, 322, and may be accessed by data access module 305.

Data accessed by data access module 305 may be furnished to presentationmodule 310. Presentation module 310 may have associated therewith one ormore templates 312 for presentation of data accessed by data accessmodule 305. The presentation module 310 may populate a selected templatewith the accessed data and transmit the populated template for displayon a client device. System connection module 350 provides authenticationand data security services.

Referring to FIG. 4, an exemplary populated template 400 as displayed ona client device 402 is shown. The user has input a selected payrollcheck date 410 from a drop down menu; the drop down menu is populatedbased on check data stored in the database and associated with anemployer. The policy period 412 and the policy number 414 are alsoaccessed from the database. The display lists each employee associatedwith the employer, or a subset selected using more selective databasequeries, by name 426. In this embodiment, each employee has associatedwith the employee name, geographic data, namely a state 420 of thefacility where the employee is employed, an occupation classificationcode 422, a type 424, whether the employee is an owner, officer orpartner of the employer 428. Type 424 provides a code associated withthe occupation classification code to indicate whether the occupationclassification code is an actual code based on data received from orverified by the employer, or a default code assigned by the insurancecompany. The default code may be assigned by the insurance company ifthe employer does not provide an occupation classification code, or ifan occupation classification code furnished by the employer is notpermitted under the policy. The display further shows payroll periodinformation, including the payroll period ending date 430, theemployee's total wages 432 for that period, the employee's excludedwages 434 for that period, and the employee's subject wages 436, whichis the total wages less the excluded wages. Excluded wages may include,for example, paid vacation wages not subject to workers compensationpremiums under applicable state rules, and tips not subject to workerscompensation premiums under applicable state rules. The determination ofwhether wages are excluded may be made using business rules that vary ona state-by-state basis. The business rules reflect state legal andregulatory provisions. For example, the business rules may provide thatfor a given state, wages paid as sick time are not excluded, but for adifferent state, wages paid as sick time are excluded. Similar rules mayapply for wages paid as vacation time, as tips, and in other categories.The application of business rules requires accurate state data in column420. The display further shows a premium rate 438, an earned premiumamount 440 for that payroll period, a collected premium 442, and thedate the collected premium was drawn from the employer's bank account444. The premium rate 438 may be determined in accordance with businessrules, and may be dependent on state, occupation classification code,officer or owner status, and other factors. The display further shows asum of the subject wages for the employee from the commencement of thepolicy to date 446, and a premium paid 448 on the employee to date underthe policy. As the policy commencement date may not be the same as thecommencement date of a pay period, the system may calculate the subjectwages by pro-rating the wages during a first pay period of the policyperiod. The policy to date premium 448 is taken from the database. Notesarea 450 provides additional information regarding certain items. In thedisplay, notes area 450 provides a detailed explanation of the meaningsof the codes D and A in the Type column. Notes area 450 may providedetailed information regarding other categories of data.

In the embodiment shown, the employees are shown individually andgrouped by state and occupation classification code, with totals of wageand premium data for each state and occupation class combination. Inother embodiments, employees may be grouped by state only, by occupationclassification code only, or by other criteria.

In an embodiment, a button permits a user to launch a tool that extractsthe displayed data and formats the data in a suitable file for download.The tool may be implemented as software stored in a system memorydevice. The format of the file may be a spreadsheet format, such as the.xls or .xlsx formats.

In reviewing the data, the user may readily identify data such asincorrect states, occupation classification codes, and wages, and alertthe insurance company to provide changes. In an embodiment, thepresentation module may be configured to furnish a display that receivesuser modifications to the displayed data input at the client device. Thepresentation module may be configured to provide drop down menus withpermitted selections based on business rules and based on states,occupation classification codes and other factors permitted under thepolicy. The presentation module may furnish the modified data to thedata access module to update the insurance company databases withcorrected data in real time. In an embodiment, the system may beconfigured to execute business rules by a user. A tool may be providedfor a user to input updated data in the display, and the browser orother client software furnishes the updated data to the web server,which then transmits the updated data to the database to implement thecorrection in real time.

Referring to FIG. 5, a screen 500 is displayed on device 502 that isgenerated in response to selection of the non-payroll based premiumoption from the select payroll check date drop down of FIG. 4. Here, theexpenses that are not based on payroll data are shown. In thisembodiment, there is a single entry, expense constant 505, which may bea single expense for a policy term, or may represent an installmentpayment on a flat expense for a policy term. The installments may be dueon a different basis than a payroll schedule. For example, the expenseconstant 505 may be payable each calendar month. The entries may includepayments agreed in a payment plan, such as a payment plan agreed betweenthe employer and the insurance company for payment of underpaidpremiums. The entries may reflect flat payments to reflect underpaymentsidentified as a result of an audit by the insurance company of theemployer's records. For example, an audit may identify individualsclassified as independent contractors by the employer, on whom nopremiums were paid, while applicable law may require payment of workerscompensation insurance premiums. In an embodiment, the constant expensedata shown in FIG. 5 may be shown on a same screen with the payroll dataof FIG. 4.

Returning to FIG. 3, in an embodiment, system connection module 350performs functions of authenticating users for access to a computersystem for administration of payroll-related insurance policies andtransactions, including to access data from the databases 320, 322.System connection module 350 also performs other firewall functions,such as identification and neutralizing of malicious code and otherattacks. Presentation module 310 serves to present the accessed payrollbased insurance data of the employer on the client device. In anembodiment, a system connection module may be implemented on the serverand perform functions of authenticating users and permitting connectionto system components. In an embodiment, a system connection module maybe implemented on a standalone device including one or more processorsand memory devices storing code having instructions which, when executedby the one or more processors, causes the one or more processors toperform authentication and firewall functions.

Referring now to FIG. 6, an embodiment of a computer system 600 forclassification of employees for use in payroll-based insurance serviceswill be explained. Server 602 has a processing module 604, a data accessmodule 606 and a communications module 608. Data access module 606accesses employee data from a payroll data source, such as payrollcompany server 620, and from insurance company databases 630, 632.Insurance company databases 630, 632 are merely exemplary, and server602 may access data in one database, or in two or more databases. Eachlogical database may be stored on one or more memory storage devices.Data may be accessed via a database server that accesses multiple datastorage units in which data in a logical database is stored. A userassociated with one or more employers may access server 602 from clientdevice 660, which in this example is a smart phone. System connectionmodule 650 may authenticate the user and provide data security servicesfor communications with client device 660. The user is associated withan employer. Processing module 604 identifies, for one or moreemployers, based on comparing employee data from the payroll companyserver 620 and from the insurance company databases 630, 632, employeeslacking an associated occupation classification code. Processing module604 may perform this identification process for a given employer on aperiodic basis, when data associated with each payroll of the employeris available from payroll company server 620, or at each authenticationof a user associated with the employer, for example. Processing module604 makes the employee data available to presentation module 640.Presentation module 640 generates and presents on a display on a clientdevice 660, for the authenticated user, a fillable form 700 listing eachof the identified employees and a user prompt for an occupationclassification code. The presentation module 640 receives classificationcodes input by the user into client device 660. Processing module 604further furnishes the received classification codes to the databases630, 632. The user is thus able to update and correct classificationdata.

Various rules may be associated with the updating of classificationdata. For example, a rule may provide a default classification code thatis applied to an employee, either upon receipt, or after a period oftime has elapsed with no input by the employer. The default code may bea code having a highest premium. For example, for a workers compensationpolicy, the default code may be a code of a classification subject to ahighest risk of injury and highest workers compensation premium rates.In another embodiment, a default code may be a code associated with ahighest percentage of employees at that employer or at a class ofemployer.

After receipt of classification data, rules may be implemented by theprocessing module for verification. Rules may be provided that createflags if percentages of particular occupation classifications atparticular types of employers exceed or are less than set ranges. Forexample, if the employer is an auto body shop, a flag may be triggeredif the percentage of clerical employees exceeds a relatively lowpercentage, such as 10 percent. If the employer is a buildingcontractor, a flag may be triggered if the percentage of carpenters isbelow a threshold. If a flag is triggered, a message may be generated bypresentation module for display on the client device indicating anerror. The insurance company database may include data indicative ofpermitted occupation classification codes for employees associated withthe employer, such as under policy terms. Rules may generate a flag ifan occupation classification code is received that is not permitted forthe employer's policy. A message may be output to a workstation ofinsurance company personnel to require manual review and approval of theclassifications prior to updating of the databases.

Upon receipt of the occupation classification code data, the data may beprovided to premium calculation module for calculation of insurancepremiums associated with the employee, based on the occupationclassification code and other data, such as state of employment.Processing module 604 may similarly identify employees lackinggeographic information based on a comparison of data received frompayroll company server 620 and data in insurance company databases 630,632. Processing module 604 may provide this data to presentation module640 to include in a fillable form presented to the user on client device660. The user, thus prompted by the system, may provide geographiclocation data, such as state of employment for each employee. This datamay be checked by processing module 604 for compliance with permittedstates under the policy, based on data in the insurance companydatabases. The state data may be furnished to premium calculation module610 for use in calculating premiums. Similarly, data indicative of anemployee's status as an officer or owner may similarly be included in afillable form, received by the system, and employed to calculatepremiums.

While FIG. 6 illustrates a payroll company server 620 as a source ofpayroll data, other sources, such as a file on the employer's computersystem, may be employed to obtain the employee payroll data.

Referring to FIG. 7, an exemplary fillable form 700 as displayed on aclient device 702 is shown. Each identified employee not having anassociated occupation classification is listed by name at 710.Associated with each identified employee name are input fields forlocation, such as state field 720, occupation classification field 722,and an officer yes/no checkbox 724. Under requirements that vary fromstate to state, various states, officers and proprietors are subject torules for determination of workers compensation premiums different fromthose applicable to employees. The state rules vary in some statesdepending on a category of ownership. Maximum and minimum premiums ormaximum and minimum attributed wages are required under applicable rulesof certain states. Some state rules permit an employer to select whetheran officer or owner is covered. In an embodiment, separate checkboxesmay be provided for user selection of officer status or ofowner/proprietor status. In an embodiment, upon submission of a formincluding a user selection of officer or owner/proprietor status, asystem may run business rules to determine if, under applicable staterequirements, more data is required, or options are available. If moredata is required, or options are available, a further screen may begenerated and presented to the user with a selection of permittedownership categories, such as sole proprietor, one of individual jointowners, general partner, limited partner, sole shareholder, majorityshareholder, or other options. The data for such a screen may beprovided, referring again to FIG. 6, by processing module 604 topresentation module 640, which may select one of a plurality of suitabletemplates for such a screen. If options are available, the screen maypermit the user to make selections, such as opting in or opting out ofworkers compensation coverage for the particular individual.

Referring again to FIG. 7, each field in form 700 may have a drop downmenu, based on data contained in the database for permitted states andoccupation classifications under the policy. The drop down menu maypermit selection only of permitted states and permitted occupationclassifications. A comment field 730 is available for the user toprovide comments in free text form. For example, if the drop down menusfor location or occupation classifications omit required options, theuser may provide comments in field 730. Comments may be directed by thesystem to an insurance company user. A submit button 740 is provided forthe user to provide an instruction for the data to be transmitted by thebrowser client or client application to an insurance company server forfurther processing.

Referring now to FIG. 8, a block diagram is provided of exemplary system800 for receiving payroll data for determination of premiums for payrollrelated insurance. Presentation module 805 provides a fillable form,such as fillable form 900, for display on a client device, such as smartphone 810. System connection module 850 provides user authentication anddata security services for data exchanged with smart phone 810. The formprompts the user to provide payroll data, the payroll data includingemployee geographic data (such as state of employment), occupationclassification codes and gross amount paid, and for providing receiveddata to processing module. Other categories of wages, such as bonuses,paid vacation, paid sick leave, commissions, overtime, other paid leaveand tips, may be included in fields in the form. Presentation module 805may pre-fill the form with data from a prior payroll period accessedfrom an insurance company database. Processing module 822 of server 820receives user-supplied data from the presentation module 805. Processingmodule 822 runs business rules on the received data. The business rulesmay include determining whether the furnished locations and occupationclassification codes are permitted for the policy of the employer. Thebusiness rules may include rules to determine if percentages ofemployees in various occupation classes are within permitted ranges foran employer type. The business rules may include rules to determine ifthe wages are within permitted ranges for occupation classification codeand geographic location, by way of further example. If processing moduleidentifies a discrepancy based on the business rules, the processingmodule may provide a signal to the presentation module to display asuitable error message identifying the data causing the error and theviolation. For example, the message may read: Number of clericalemployees exceeds maximum for business type with your total payroll. Theuser may then provide corrected data, which is again subject to businessrules by the processing module.

The processing module may provide the data to a premium calculationmodule 826 for calculating premiums based on the received payroll dataand other data stored in datastore 840 and accessed employing dataaccess module 824, which may employ a library of stored queries.Functions of premium calculation module 826 includes applyingjurisdictional conditions such as workers' compensation classificationrates to account for various employee status (e.g., a company officerstatus may have particularities regarding insurance premiumrequirements) and applying state rules applicable to such status. Stateexclusion and inclusion rules may be applied. State exclusion andinclusion rules deal with whether to factor into the workers'compensation premium such items as: Wages, Salaries, Commissions,Bonuses, Overtime (Premium Portion), Shift Differential, Premium Pay,Holiday, Sick, Vacation, Statutory Insurance, Pension, Piecework, ProfitSharing, Incentive Plan, Tool Allowance, Housing Pay, Meal Allowance(regular time), Meal Allowance (overtime), Gift Equivalents, Section 125(employee paid), Davis-Bacon wages to employee, Annuity plans, Expensereimbursements, Non business expenses, Expense reimbursements, Qualifiedbusiness expense, Tips, Severance, Military Pay, Employee discounts,Uniform reimbursement, Sick Pay paid by TPA, Davis-Bacon wages tothird-party trust, Employer contributions (group insurance/grouppension), Employer contributions (salary reduction), Employercontributions (employee savings plans), Employer contributions(retirement), Employer contributions (cafeteria plans), Employercontributions (stock purchase plans), Employer contributions (deferredcompensation), Fringe Benefits and Travel Time. Such conditions andrules may be stored in datastore 840, for example.

Referring to FIG. 9, fillable form 900 presented on device 902 is shown.A series of input fields 910 are provided for the user to provide, bystate and class, total figures for a given payroll. The totals includestandard wages, bonus, tips, commission payments, paid vacationpayments, sick time payments, and overtime payments. In an embodiment,each field may be presented for each individual employee; the user mayhave the option of selecting between total or individual employeeinputs.

The present systems may be associated with a system as further describedin copending application Ser. No. 11/975,224, filed Oct. 17, 2007. Sucha system may, by way of example, be for accumulating, processing,administering and analyzing workers compensation premiums in anautomated workflow environment. The system provides for calculating theworkers' compensation premiums for a designated period based on thepayroll processes, notifying the insured of the amount of funds andtiming of each expected withdrawal from its bank account, withdrawingfrom the insured's bank account the premium funds and transferring thefunds to the insurance carrier. This advantageously results in reducedfinancial risks, reduced non payments of premiums and improvement ofcash flows for the insured. The system additionally provides forelectronic data transfer pertaining to administrative data, and billingrelating to workers compensation premiums. Such a system may notify theuser of each expected withdrawal from a bank account, access of which isprovided by the user. The system automatically draws the workers'compensation premium from the user's account based on its actual payrolldata for the applicable period.

Such a system processes payroll insurance premiums, more particularly,where input data related to workers' compensation payment obligationsobtained from payroll records is acquired in real-time by validatingusername/passwords before accessing a customer payroll system payrolldatabase; accessing the customer payroll system payroll database;encrypting payroll data; transmitting encrypted payroll data from theremote site to the central site asynchronously or scheduled in realtime; uploading the payroll data onto the central site server database;collecting an employee roster associated with the payroll data;categorizing pay-type information; parsing and translating thecategorized information; storing the parsed and translated informationinto temporary databases; detecting the presence or absence of fraudthat may be related to the payroll data; transferring the payroll dataresident in the temporary databases to a process for (a) applying statejurisdictional inclusion and exclusion rules applicable to workers'compensation payments; and (b) pushing final data into a billing systemfor debiting the customer account.

Such a system may include a remote site payroll system configured with aaccounting/bookkeeping software such as QuickBooks®Pro/Premier/Enterprise residing in a memory, a customer payroll systemhaving a payroll database; a utility software resident in memory topermit a central site computer web server to receive from the remotesite system payroll data stored in a database at the remote site; and aserver to read payroll accounts either received from the web server orresiding in a payroll database; an Internet connection has a browserappearing on a display. The central site may include a web server oralternatively a server having conditioning software to parse, filter andgenerally extract payroll data received from a system exclusive of otherpayroll deductions; and a rules engine customized to a particular remotepayroll system, which may include a worker classification functionalityto separate different occupations. Once the insurance premiums aredetermined, the premium amount due is transmitted through a network to abanking or billing system. The billing system debits an employerpayables payroll account and credits an insurance company receivableaccount.

A database may be is interconnected to a payroll system for storingaccumulated payroll information and other data pertinent to a payrollgeneration system. User input device(s) for receiving input into eachterminal of the payroll system are also provided as well as outputdevices such as a printer or electronic document formatter for producingdocuments being interconnected and responsive to each of the payrollsystem. A banking system or billing system including an insured's bankmay be accessed; a payables debit bank account may reside in theinsured's bank, and may communicate with an insurance company bankwherein a receivables deposit account resides.

Referring to FIG. 11, a process flow of a computer-implemented methodfor furnishing payroll-related insurance data to a user associated withan employer via a client device is illustrated. A request for access toa computer system is received 1105 from a user at a client device. Theuser is authenticated 1110, such as by a system authentication module.The system receives 1115 a user request for payroll-based insurance dataof an employer associated with the user. Responsive to the request, thesystem accesses 1120, such as by a processor of a data access module,payroll-based insurance data of the employer from a database. Theaccessed payroll-based insurance data includes names of employees andemployee data associated with each of the employees, the employee dataincluding wages paid to the employee, occupation classification code ofthe employee, employment location of the employee, and cost of premiumfor payroll-based insurance coverage associated with the employee. Thesystem presents 1125, such as by a processor of a presentation module,the accessed payroll based insurance data of the employer on a displayof the client device. The data presented may include employee names and,associated with each of the employee names, employee data includingwages paid to the employee, occupation classification code of theemployee, employment location of the employee, and cost of premium forpayroll-based insurance coverage associated with the employee.

Referring now to FIG. 12, a system 1200 for administration ofpayroll-related insurance transactions and policies, and particularlyinclude a renewal module 1212, will be explained. Server 1202 has aprocessing module 1204, a data access module 1206, a communicationsmodule 1208, a premium calculation module 1210, and a renewal module1212. Data access module 1206 accesses employee data from a payroll datasource, such as payroll company server 1220, and from exemplaryinsurance company databases 630, 632. A user associated with one or moreemployers may access server 1202 from client device 1260, which in thisexample is a smart phone. System connection module 1250 may authenticatethe user and provide data security services for communications withclient device 1260. The user is associated with an employer. Processingmodule 1204 performs processing functions, such as applying businessrules to identify gaps or inconsistencies in payroll and insurancecompany data, and running business rules for verification of datafurnished by the user from client device 1260. Presentation module 1240presents data provided by processing module 1204 and data access module1206 for display on client device 660. Presentation module 1240 maydeliver, for example, a wage statement, listing wages paid to variousemployees on various payroll dates, or over time, in various categories.Renewal module 1212 may monitor when a policy is within a certain timeperiod, such as 60 or 90 days, of the end of a term, and may thenautomatically generate a policy renewal. A policy renewal may be in theform of a policy endorsement renewing the party for another time period,such as a year. Renewal module 1212 may output a signal to a printingand mailing system for printing and mailing of policy renewals andrelated documents, such as endorsements.

Referring to FIG. 13, a high level view of an environment in which asystem for administration of payroll-related insurance is shown.Payroll-related insurance processing system 1200 may perform functionsof such a system as explained in the present application. System 1200 iswithin insurance company environment 1200. Claims processing system 1370may generate requests, transmitted via LAN 1360, to payroll-relatedinsurance processing system 1200. Claims processing system 1370 mayprocess claims under payroll-related insurance policies. Such requestsmay be, for example, for verification of coverage and other details,such as policy exclusions and limits, as to a particular employee at aparticular time, in connection with the policies. The request may bereceived by a processor of a communications module. A processor of adata access module may access, from a database, payroll-relatedinsurance data. A processing module may compare data in the request withthe data accessed from the database, and determine a response to therequest for verification based on the comparing. A processor of acommunications module may furnish the response to the request to theclaims processing system 1370.

System 1200 may furnish data indicative of amounts to be invoiced, basedon calculations of payroll-related insurance premiums, to invoicingsystem 1310. Data may identify the employer, payroll periods or othertime periods, coverages, and premiums amounts. Invoicing system 1310 mayformat invoices as print files to printers 1312, which may interfacewith a mailing system to cause the invoices 1314 to be mailed, such asvia a postal service, illustrated by post office 1330, to employer 1340.Employer 1340 may mail premium payments by check using post office 1330to bank 1360 for crediting in an insurance company account.Alternatively, bank 1360 may be a bank of the employer, and a paymentprocessing system 1320 may provide instructions to bank 1360 fordebiting of the employer's account. Upon receipt of payment by theinsurance company, payment processing system provides data indicative ofthe payment to system 1200. The data indicative of the payment may bestored in insurance company databases. Employer 1340 may access system1200 via Internet 1350 to view and update data as described in thisapplication.

Referring to FIG. 14, a process flow of a computer-implemented methodfor classification of employees for use in payroll-based insuranceservices is shown. A system accesses 1405, such as by a processor of adata access module, employee data, of employees associated with anemployer, from a payroll data source and from an insurance companydatabase. The system identifies 1410, such as by a processor of aprocessing module, based on the accessed employee data, employeeslacking an associated occupation classification code. The systempresents 1415, such as by a processor of a presentation module,responsive to a request from a user associated with the employer, afillable form on a display on a client device listing each of theidentified employees and a user prompt for an occupation classificationcode. The system receives 1420 occupation classification codes from theuser. The system furnishes 1425, such as by a processor of theprocessing module received occupation classification codes to theinsurance company database.

Referring now to FIG. 15, a process flow of a computer-implementedmethod for receiving payroll related employee data and determiningpayroll related insurance premiums is shown. A fillable form ispresented 1505, such as by a processor of a presentation module, fordisplay on a client device. The form prompts the user to provide payrolldata, the payroll data including employee geographic data, occupationclassification and gross amount paid. Received data is provided 1510,such as by a processor of the presentation module received data to aprocessing module. Business rules are run 1515 by a processor of theprocessing module on the received data. The payroll data may then befurnished 1520 by the processor of the processing module to a premiumcalculation module. A processor of the premium calculation module maycalculate 1525 insurance premiums based on the received payroll data.

References to state rules and regulations herein include rules andregulations of any jurisdiction that has separate workers compensationrules and regulations, including for example, within the jurisdiction ofthe United States: the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S.Virgin Islands, other U.S. territories and possessions, the NavajoNation and other American Indian nations.

Embodiments of the present invention are operable with computer storageproducts or computer readable media that contain program code forcausing a processor to perform the various computer-implementedoperations. The computer-readable medium is any data storage device thatcan store data which can thereafter be read by a computer system such asa microprocessor. The media and program code may be those speciallydesigned and constructed for the purposes of the present invention, orthey may be of the kind well known to those of ordinary skill in thecomputer software arts. Examples of computer-readable media include, butare not limited to magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks, andmagnetic tape; optical media such as CD-ROM disks; magneto-opticalmedia; and specially configured hardware devices such asapplication-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), programmable logicdevices (PLDs), and ROM and RAM devices. Examples of program codeinclude both machine code, as produced, for example, by a compiler, orfiles containing higher-level code that may be executed using aninterpreter. Steps in the computer-implemented methods may beimplemented in processors running software stored locally, and/or inconfigurations such as application service providers, in which certainsteps are executed on processors communicating with one another over anetwork such as the Internet. Either stand-alone computers orclient/server systems, or any combination thereof, may be employed.

A system in accordance with the invention may include meanscorresponding to each step in each method described herein. Each meansmay be implemented by a processor executing instructions contained inprograms which may be stored in a storage medium, such as a magnetic oroptical storage medium. The instructions may, when executed by aprocessor, cause the processor to execute algorithms disclosed inassociation with each step. It will be appreciated that any of the stepsin the methods in accordance with the invention described herein may beso implemented.

An exemplary advantage of a system and method in accordance with anembodiment is that employers can obtain access to detailed payroll basedinsurance premium data with minimal printing and mailing costs. Afurther exemplary advantage is that the cost and delay associated withtelephoning of employers by insurance company personnel to obtainclassification information for employees for determination ofpayroll-based insurance premiums is avoided. A further exemplaryadvantage is that an employer that does not use a payroll servicecompany may conveniently provide accurate payroll data to an insurancecompany for determination of premiums.

While the foregoing invention has been described with reference to theabove embodiments, various modifications and changes can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, all suchmodifications and changes are considered to be within the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer system for receiving employer payrolldata and determining workers compensation insurance premiums,comprising: a communication device configured to receive employerpayroll data input by a user on an interface on a client device, thereceived user-input payroll data including, for an employer payrollperiod, data indicative of, for each of a plurality of employees,geographic data, occupation classification and gross amount paid, and tooutput the user-input payroll data; a processing device in communicationwith the communication device and configured to: receive the user-inputpayroll data from the communication device; apply business rules to thereceived user-input payroll data to identify discrepancies in theuser-input payroll data; and responsive to identifying no discrepanciesin the user-input payroll data, provide the user-input payroll data to apremium calculation component; and a premium calculation component incommunication with the processing device and configured to calculate aworkers compensation insurance premium for the employer payroll periodbased on the received user-input payroll data.
 2. The computer system ofclaim 1, wherein the payroll data further comprises data indicative of,for each of the plurality of employees, wages, vacation time and sicktime.
 3. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the premium calculationcomponent is configured to calculate the workers compensation insurancepremium based further on business classification data and stored ratedata.
 4. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the premium calculationcomponent is further configured to output determined workerscompensation insurance premium data to the communication device toprovide to the client device for display.
 5. The computer system ofclaim 1, wherein the business rules comprise state-specific businessrules for determining whether workers compensation insurance is requiredfor an employee, and the processing device is configured to determine,for each of the employees, whether workers compensation insurance isrequired.
 6. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the processingdevice is further configured to, responsive to identification of one ormore discrepancies in the user-provided payroll data, output dataindicative of an error message, the error message including anidentification of data causing the one or more discrepancies and acorresponding violation explanation, for display on the client device.7. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the processing device isfurther configured to generate a wage statement listing, on anemployee-by-employee basis, wages paid by an employer associated withthe user, for furnishing to the employer.
 8. The computer system ofclaim 1, wherein the received user-input payroll data further includesdata indicative of officer status for each of the employees, and whereinthe premium calculation component is configured to determine the workerscompensation insurance premium based at least in part on the dataindicative of employee officer status.
 9. The computer system of claim1, further comprising: a presentation device configured to furnish theinterface for display on the client device, the interface comprising afillable form prompting the user to provide the payroll data, includingthe geographic data, the occupation classification and the gross amountpaid, for each of the plurality of employees, for the employer payrollperiod.
 10. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the processingdevice is further configured to identify employees lacking an associatedoccupation classification code, and to provide data to the communicationdevice to furnish to the client device data for display of a prompt tothe user to provide occupation classification codes for the employeesidentified as lacking an associated occupation classification code. 11.The computer system of claim 1, wherein the system is further configuredto automatically draw the calculated workers compensation insurancepremium from an employer bank account.
 12. A computer-implemented methodfor receiving employer payroll data and determining workers compensationinsurance premiums, comprising: receiving, by a communication device,employer payroll data input by a user on an interface on a clientdevice, the employer payroll data including, for an employer payrollperiod, for each of a plurality of employees, geographic data,occupation classification and gross amount paid; providing, by thecommunication device, the user-input payroll data to a processingdevice; determining, by the processing device, whether one or morediscrepancies are present in the user-input payroll data, by applyingbusiness rules to the user-input payroll data; responsive to determiningthat no discrepancies are present in the user-input payroll data,furnishing, by the processing device, the user-provided payroll data toa premium calculation device; and calculating, by the premiumcalculation device, a workers compensation insurance premium, for theemployer payroll period, based on the user-input payroll data.
 13. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein the user-input payrolldata further comprises, for each of the plurality of employees, wages,vacation time and sick time.
 14. The computer-implemented method ofclaim 12, wherein the calculating, by the premium calculation device, ofthe workers compensation insurance premium, is based further on businessclassification data and stored rate data.
 15. The computer-implementedmethod of claim 12, further comprising identifying by the processingdevice employees lacking an associated occupation classification code,and providing, by the processing device, data to the communicationdevice to furnish to the client device, for display of a prompt to theuser to provide occupation classification codes for the employeesidentified as lacking an associated occupation classification code. 16.The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein the business rulescomprise state-specific business rules for determining whether a maximumor a minimum attributed wage is applicable to an employee, and themethod comprises determining whether the maximum or the minimumattributed wage is attributable to each of the employees.
 17. Anon-transitory computer-readable medium having a plurality ofcomputer-readable instructions stored thereon, which instructions, whenexecuted by a processor, cause the processor to: receive employerpayroll data input by a user on an interface on a client device, thereceived user-input payroll data including, for a plurality ofemployees, for an employer pay period, data indicative of geographicdata, occupation classification and gross amount paid; responsive toreceipt of the user-input payroll data: apply business rules to theuser-input payroll data to identify discrepancies in the user-providedpayroll data; and provide, responsive to identifying no discrepancies inthe user-input payroll data, the user-input payroll data to a premiumcalculation device configured to calculate a workers compensationinsurance premium, for the employer payroll period, based on theuser-provided payroll data.
 18. The non-transitory computer-readablemedium of claim 17, wherein the business rules comprise state-specificbusiness rules for determining whether workers compensation insurance isrequired for an employee.
 19. The non-transitory computer-readablemedium of claim 17, wherein the instructions further cause the processorto generate a wage statement listing wages paid by an employerassociated with the user on an employee-by-employee basis for display onthe client device.
 20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium ofclaim 17, wherein the instructions further cause the processor toidentify employees lacking an associated occupation classification code,and to provide output data to cause the client device to display aprompt to the user to provide occupation classification codes for theemployees identified as lacking an associated occupation classificationcode.